Final answer:
Rolled leaves in marram grass minimize water loss through transpiration, providing an advantage in coastal and salt-marsh environments where water conservation is essential. Intercalary meristems allow the grass to continue growing after grazing or mowing, which can result in the grass flowering earlier as a survival adaptation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Marram grass, which is often found in coastal sand dunes and salt-marshes, has a distinctive adaptation in the form of rolled leaves. This adaptation is beneficial because it reduces the surface area exposed to the air, thereby minimizing water loss through transpiration. In addition, the intercalary meristems in grass leaves, which include marram grass, provide a survival advantage. Intercalary meristems are regions where the plant can continue to grow even if the tip of the leaf is damaged or removed. This is particularly advantageous in environments where the grass might be grazed on by animals or mowed by humans. In the case of mowing, this feature impedes the reproduction of the grass but allows it to adapt and survive by flowering earlier.